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From: hnewstrom@x102a.uucp (Newstrom Harvey S 96783)
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.bio
Subject: Re: birth control pills and hair growth
Keywords: birth control pills hair growth
Message-ID: <1489@trantor.harris-atd.com>
Date: 18 Feb 89 22:17:56 GMT
References: <222@truffles.cs.utexas.edu>
Sender: news@trantor.harris-atd.com
Reply-To: hnewstrom@x102a.UUCP (Newstrom Harvey S 96783)
Organization: Harris Corporation GSS, Melbourne, Florida
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In article <222@truffles.cs.utexas.edu> lisa@cs.utexas.edu (Lisa Laguna) writes:
>I hope someone out there can set my sister-in-law straight.  She insists 
>that adding crushed birth control pills to one's shampoo will stimulate 
>hair growth.  I know that hormones can stimulate hair growth (i.e. in
>pregnant women, but don't they have to come from the inside??
>
>Incidentally, if anyone knows of any REAL methods (i.e. vitamins) to affect
>hair growth, I would appreciate the information.  I've been trying to grow
>my hair long for 10 years, but at the rate of 2 inches per year, I get fed
>up with the never ending 'growing out stage and invariably cut it.
>
>I would appreciate any e-mail responses...
>
>Lisa Laguna

I am not sure what hormones are in birth control pills, but female hormones
(estrogen) applied topically to _males_ with male pattern baldness can help
grow hair.  The topical application does not get absorbed into the body,
which is good news for the males, but does act locally in the scalp.
I do not know what the effect on a female would be.

Another effective treatment is to use polysorbate-80 or polysorbate-60,
rubbed topically on the scalp.  It releases histamines and removes
cholesterol, sebum and dihydrotestosterone from the scalp follicles which
inhibit hair growth by keeping them in their non-hairgrowing phase.
As with any topical preperation, you may see a slight increase in hair loss
for the first week or two due to the increased agitation of application
pulling out pre-loosened follicles.

The nutrients required in the diet for proper hair growth are
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), cysteine (not cystine), biotin and
ascorbic acid (vitamin C).  Some claims have been made for zinc or vitamin
E, but I have not seen any studies indicating this.

Disclamer:  I am a researcher and not a doctor.  If hair loss is a new
occurance a qualifier professional should be consulted.
______
Harvey Newstrom (hnewstrom@x102a.harris-atd.com) (uunet!x102a!hnewstrom)